Beijing, May 27: China has replaced the heads of Tibet's local government and legislature in a reshuffle aimed at promoting economic development and combating the influence of the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama, an official newspaper reported. The Tibet daily didn't say when the new appointments were made, but said the new leaders were presented at a meeting of the regional government on May 19. The report appeared in the paper's May 20 edition, seen in Beijing today.

There was no indication that the appointments heralded any change in policy toward the region. Regional Communist party chief Guo Jinlong, who is a member of China's majority Han ethnic group, remains the region's top official, the report said.

Guo told the new leaders to keep up the fight against the Dalai Lama, who is revered by Tibetans despite persistent efforts to discredit him, it said.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of trying to overthrow Chinese rule in Tibet, although he claims to seek only meaningful autonomy for Tibetans and preservation of their unique Buddhist culture.

Bureau Report